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Storyline

A very free adaptation of Marlowe's 'Doctor Faustus', Goethe's 'Faust' and various other treatments of the old legend of the man who sold his soul to the devil. Svankmajer's Faust is a nondescript man who, after being lured by a strange map into a sinister puppet theatre, finds himself immersed in an indescribably weird version of the play, blending live actors, clay model animation and giant puppets.Written by
Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>

Technical Specs

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Did You Know?

Trivia

A quote from Goethe's Faust: "The spirit of the ages, that you find, In the end, is the spirit of Humankind: A mirror where all the ages are revealed. And so often it's all a mere misery Something we run away from at first sight. A pile of sweepings, a lumber room, maybe At best, a puppet show, that's bright With maxims, excellent, pragmatic, Suitable when dolls' mouths wax dramatic!" See more »

Quotes

Faust:
All I have learnt is that the Mighty Elephant is no better than the tiny flea.
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Frequently Asked Questions

User Reviews

"Faust" is a wonderful blend of real-time and stop-motion storytelling by a master of the surreal. An apparently ordinary everyman is led by curiosity into a dilapidated building which turns out to be a strange blend of alchemical laboratory, theater, and puppeteer's workshop. Suddenly, the man finds himself becoming the legendary Dr. Faust, selling his soul to the devil in exchange for magical powers.

Jan Svankmajer is the true sorcerer here. He blends stage sets with real locations and seven-foot puppets with live actors, making magic of it all.

The film has been dubbed for English audiences, but there has perhaps never been a less obtrusive film dub. The voice performances are excellent and actually add to the surreal quality of the film.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful.
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